integrated M humidifier vs. HC150

I see that several people have posted comments about not being happy with the M series integrated humidifier, and preferring the HC150.

But I'm curious to hear more about what problems/complaints folks have re. the M humidifyer.

Thanks.

most issues that folks have are related to:

too hard to fill
too small and runs out of water too soon
leaks
too hard to clean
not enough humidity or not warm enough

I'm sure there are others but those are the main complaints.

DreamStalker wrote:I'm sure there are others but those are the main complaints.

Ditto.

My m-series integrated humidifier has had none of the problems. The only thing I dislike about it is that it doesn't hold enough water to last more than one night. In my opinion it isn't hard to fill but you do have to fill it every night if you use the humidifier set above 1.

DITTO...AAAAAND, I just replaced my Mseries humi with the 150. I am ecstatic!!! I couldn't break my 1.4--1.9 AHI. I live in Prescott Arizona. I'm a mile up. The M was not hacking it. My mouth was dry even though I set it on 3 and we had a Swiss Air humidifier running in the room. ( I didn't want to set it higher because of "rain out"). I was waking up with dry mouth. The trouble with the M was, that it gets COLD in our room (snow outside) and it won't adjust to the varying temps...the HC150 handles this cold fluctuation superbly. Guess what? I achieved an 0.9 AHI yesterday and today!!! And now I have slept 8 hours STRAIGHT both nights. I LOOOOVE the HC150 and would highly recommend it to anyone. I can feel the difference. Be SURE to ONLY use distilled water!!!!! I had an issue with my M when I went on a trip and used just a few nights of "on the road water"...it WILL mess up the M machine. Although, now I don't have to worry with the HC150 being so separate. (still,use distilled water!) We traveled through the desert to Palm Springs and up to Solvang...VERY hard water. I had to send the machine in to get fixed.

So if I get the HC150, would I not need to purchase an Aussie hose to help with the rainout situation?

I have my HC150 set a 2. I haven't had any trouble with rain out. It gets down to about 67 degrees at night in the room. It's a 20' by 20' bedroom WITH the Swiss Air humidifier running too and the doors closed. The HC150 is supposed to get rid of the rain out problem.

dieselgal wrote:My m-series integrated humidifier has had none of the problems. The only thing I dislike about it is that it doesn't hold enough water to last more than one night. In my opinion it isn't hard to fill but you do have to fill it every night if you use the humidifier set above 1.

Uhhh .... ummmm ... errrr .... that was one of the problems I mentioned.



araminta -

You may or may not need an Aussie hose ... depends on how you set up the HC150 and what temp your bedroom is and what the ambient humidity is and what kind of mask you use and how hydrated your body is and .... all those other weird variables. If the question is whether the Aussie hose is required for HC150 to work? ... NO.

I got mine from CPAP.com then later got a backup on the CPAP auction site for $50 shipped brand new in box ... whoo'da thunk it?

great set of questions.

since we don't need central heating here where it never snows, but since it can get near freezing on a rare winter's nite, the bedroom temp varies but is definitely on the cooler side. we could have the room heater on, but don't really need it.

and since my HMO doesn't cover any of the CPAP expenses, I was thinking that i might start with the Aussie hose and see how i do with it. if I still am uncomfortable, then put out extra $ for the HC150. My first problem has been with rainout, rather than dry mouth.

what d'ya think?

araminta wrote:great set of questions.

.... My first problem has been with rainout, rather than dry mouth.

what d'ya think?

You might not need that much humidity, have you tried turning the humidifier down?

now that's a thought...

The HC150 is great. Look at the design of the chamber - an open pot that simply slides out and the nipples on top to fill and clean. The design for the integrated has 2 ports at an odd angle and you have to open the hatch and slide it out unplugging the hose assembly when doing it. A big deal to me is the integrated can leak into the blower unit and fry the circuits. The HC150 is a standalone and water would not enter the unit.

People who travel with a humidifier often like the integrated because it packages nicely. However, we read quite often about them forgetting to drain the tank and ruining the blower when water runs into the circuits. I leave my humidifier at home when traveling as it's only for a few days at a time.

araminta wrote:So if I get the HC150, would I not need to purchase an Aussie hose to help with the rainout situation?

A HC150 has 'ambient temp' tracking (it adjusts heat as the room temp changes). If you have a hose with a fleecy cover (as I did with my HC150) it works a treat & no Aussie hose is needed (certainly I never needed one).

Cheers

DSM

The HC150 can be used with ANY cpap or bipap machine. I don't know how long they last as I have seen many HC100s that are ten years old and working fine. A HC150 will outlive at least two cpap machines and will be compatible with whatever machines are available in the future. In the case of the M-Series, who thinks that their modular M-Series heater is going to work with machines made five years from now? Considering the cpap design replacement cycle, using the M-Series Heater with any other machine is a long shot at best.

For me the M-series HH is too small, and leaks with continued cleaning.
I have an HC150 but haven't space in my xPAP area to put it yet so I'm still using the integrated HH. I have it set on 1 and really don't like having to refill it every night!!! It's also a PIA to have to pull out the tank, fill it, push it back in....inconvenient.
I stopped cleaning the tank regularly because the rubber O-ring wears out if you keep taking it apart to clean. I use distilled water exclusively and have had no issues with anything growing. If I clean it every 6 months that's a lot.....

cheers
goose